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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
The round tower and church of the monastic city at Glendalough seen from above

Marian Shrines and the National Pilgrimage

Glendalough, Cashel, Killarney, Galway and Knock

Eleven days through the south and west, from St. Kevin’s valley at Glendalough to the Rock of Cashel, the Dingle Peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher, ending at Ireland’s national Marian shrine at Knock.

Departures

Current Tours to Ireland

Upcoming departures to Ireland. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Ten stops from Wicklow to Mayo

Dublin, Glendalough, Cashel, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Lough Corrib, Clonmacnoise and Knock.

Itinerary · EU_IE-11D-04

The Marian Shrines Itinerary

This eleven-day route runs down the south of the country and back up the west, and ends where Ireland’s national pilgrimage does, at Knock. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–3

Dublin and the Book of Kells

Photograph to come · Trinity College Old Library, Dublin
Trinity College Old Library, Dublin
Day 1

Departure

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Dublin. Meals are served on board, and the crossing is short enough that most groups step off the aircraft ready to begin the first full day in Ireland.
Day 2

Arrival in Dublin

Céad Míle Fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes. Our guide and driver meet us in the arrivals hall and transfer us to the hotel, and the group gathers in the evening for a welcome dinner and the first prayer of the pilgrimage.Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 3

Dublin, Trinity College and the Book of Kells

A panoramic tour takes in both banks of the Liffey, Phoenix Park and the Georgian squares with their painted doors. At Trinity College, founded in 1592, the Old Library holds more than twenty thousand manuscripts, among them the illuminated Book of Kells.Mass is celebrated in Dublin. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
DAYS 4–5

Wicklow and the Rock of Cashel

Photograph to come · The round tower at Glendalough
The round tower at Glendalough
Day 4

Wicklow, Glendalough and Tipperary

We cross the Wicklow mountains, the garden of Ireland, to Glendalough, the monastic city St. Kevin founded in the sixth century in the valley of the two lakes. A round tower, the ruined cathedral and St. Kevin’s Church stand in an old burial ground.Mass is celebrated at St. Kevin’s Church, Glendalough. Dinner and overnight in Tipperary.
Day 5

The Rock of Cashel and Killarney

The Rock of Cashel rises out of the Golden Vale, once the seat of the kings of Munster. Its cathedral, round tower and Cormac’s Chapel, the first Irish Romanesque church, make the most spectacular medieval group in the country.Mass is celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, Cashel. Dinner and overnight in Killarney.
DAYS 6–8

Kerry, Clare and Galway

The Cliffs of Moher falling to the Atlantic in evening light
The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Day 6

Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula is the northernmost of the Kerry peninsulas and reads like a page out of a storybook. Gallarus Oratory has stood since the ninth century, dry stone and still watertight, and the road runs on past Inch and the cliffs of Slea Head.Mass is celebrated at Kilmalkedar Church. Dinner and overnight in Killarney.
Day 7

The Shannon ferry, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway

We cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry into County Clare and come to the Cliffs of Moher, seven hundred feet of rock standing over the Atlantic. The coast road then runs along Galway Bay into the city, which has kept its medieval streets.Mass is celebrated at a local church. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 8

Lough Corrib and Clonmacnoise

A cruise on Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic, is the best way to see Galway and the country behind it. Clonmacnoise, founded by St. Ciarán in the sixth century, keeps its churches, high crosses and round towers in a field above the Shannon.Mass is celebrated at Clonmacnoise. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
DAYS 9–11

Knock and home

A crucifix and statuary in the grounds of the shrine at Knock, County Mayo
The basilica at Knock Shrine
Day 9

Knock

On 21 August 1879 fifteen witnesses watched a silent apparition at the gable of the parish church for nearly two hours: Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, with a lamb on an altar beneath a cross. The old church still stands beside the basilica.Mass is celebrated in the basilica at Knock Shrine. Dinner and overnight in Knock.
Day 10

Knock and Dublin

We cross the midlands to Dublin and visit the National Museum, whose prehistoric gold is among the finest in Europe and whose early Christian rooms hold the reliquaries and croziers of the Irish church. The evening closes with a farewell dinner.Mass is celebrated at a local church. Farewell dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 11

Return home

We transfer to Dublin Airport for the flight home, carrying the intercession of St. Kevin, St. Ciarán and Our Lady of Knock, and the memory of a country whose monasteries were once the schools of Europe.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
GlendaloughThe valley of the two lakes, where St. Kevin founded his monastery in the sixth century
Photograph to come · Glendalough
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · St. Kevin’s Church, Glendalough
St. Kevin’s Church, Glendalough
The medieval cathedral and round tower on the Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel above the Golden Vale
The dry stone Gallarus Oratory standing in the Kerry countryside
Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula
Photograph to come · Slea Head, Dingle Peninsula
Slea Head, Dingle Peninsula
The ruined churches and high crosses of Clonmacnoise at sunset
Clonmacnoise on the River Shannon
Photograph to come · The apparition gable at Knock
The apparition gable at Knock

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Ireland?

Groups travel from April through October. May, June and September bring the longest days and the mildest weather, while July and August are the warmest and the busiest. Knock keeps a pilgrimage season from late April to mid October, and the shrine is at its fullest during the August novena.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Ireland?

United States citizens need a passport valid for the length of the stay and do not need a visa to visit Ireland as tourists. This route stays entirely within the Republic of Ireland, so there is no second set of entry requirements to meet.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Ireland?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

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